I'm talking about fun.
Not silly or stupid.
Adventurous comics that keep to the spirit of super-heroics much like the books of the '60s. Not exactly copying them, but effectively striking the same cord that the Silver Age comics did.
Much like Mike Allred did with Madman and the Atomics.
I find Mystique and Green Arrow fun. Although sometimes Green Arrow can seem too weighted down.
Kubert's Sgt Rock graphic novel was terrific, but would you call it "fun"? Hmm. A good war adventure story, yes.
Lab Rats was fun. Some of the "Just Imagine Stan Lee" books were fun. Generations.I also thought that The New Frontier issue I read was pretty entertaining (the one with the Losers).
But, to be honest, I get the most fun of the type you mention from the old stuff, the silver age Marvel Masterworks. Does that make me an old fart?
The books that I'm reading for the "fun factor" are the new Transformers series by Dreamwave. Not to mention the two Transformers/G.I.Joe mini-series that were released. In superhero books, I find that X-Statix is still a fun read.
Savage Dragon is a consistent high octane fun read
Superman/Batman is a hoot
Flash is usually lots of fun
JSA is usually fun
WW under Rucka has been fun
an pretty much any DC Archive or Marvel Masterwork is fun
This message has been edited by stoter1 on Mar 2, 2004 3:48 PM
I just can't get into this Plastic Man. The art is just to bizarre for me. Now Plastic Man archives by Jack Cole, now there is magic. I am constantly amazed of how far ahead of his time Cole was. For my money it's still one of the most fun series I have ever read.
I'd have to third Savage Dragon. While JB and EL disagree a bit on certain isues, they both seem to have a lot of similar beliefs on things like aging in comics, the way comics should be marketed, etc.
EL is doing his best in attempting to capture the spirit of Kirby comics and adapting it to today's audience. Plus, this is his dream book and he'll never leave it, so you'll never have to worry about a creative team you don't like (unless you don't like EL). He's done over 100 issues with NO fill ins!
>>Someone at my local comic shop mentioned Goon, by Dark Horse. Any of you guys tried it?<<
I've tried it. I'm nonplussed. The artwork, in and of itself, is pleasing and, at times, inspired yet there's something about the story telling that leaves me wanting. "Goon" seems to have ambitions to match the wack-a-doo qualities of a Wallace Wood "Mad" story or something from the pen of Al Capp --though it can't quite find the gumption to go for broke.
I like most of Brian Michael Bendis's writing, even though I don't care for the long pacing and lack of the title character in many of his books, but I wouldn't say his writing is of the "fun" variety. Well... "Ultimate Spider-Man" can be, at times.
When JB's stuff comes out, it'll be at the top of the "fun" list, I predict.
Flash
JSA
Hawkman
Teen Titans
Astro City (whenever it appears)
Arrowsmith - beautiful and fun
Tom Strong
In looking over this it becomes obvious I am a Geoff Johns fan.. As a matter of fact I wonder what John Byrne thinks of the Tom Strong story by Johns which has a character which is strangely reminiscent of Jimmy Olsen.
1. Justice League Adventures
2. The Powerpuff Girls
3. Spider-Girl
4. Savage Dragon
5. Sight unseen, I'm thinking the next three months worth of JLA are gonna be a lot of fun!
6. There's rumors of some new title starting up in June that I'm willing to bet will be a blast!
("Batman's Doomed Atomic Moon Knight Patrol and Monkey" or some such.)
DC: THE NEW FRONTIER (Cool retro stuff!)
USAGI YOJIMBO (Read it! READ IT i tells ya!!!!)
SUPREME POWERS (ok, a tad more on the "heavy" side... still, a pretty good read)
Fun titles I wish i could read on a more-than-annual basis: Mignola's HELLBOY, PLANETARY, ASTRO CITY...
What I read before going to bed: ADAM STRANGE ARCHIVE VOLUME 1 (Wish they would reprint more of those wacky vintage DC Sci-Fi... Next up: DOOM PATROL ARCHIVE VOLUME 2)
Powerpuff Girls! I was suprised to see someone else put that on their list. I get that for my daughter and we both love it. I have to add:
JSA
Teen Titans
Hawkman
Really any Geoff Johns (Whom I received a very nice email from. He also wanted to thank the JB board for the good word on his writing)
Geoff Johns's stuff is really fun, DC has got him working on some books that match his talents. His Avengers work was less fun - rather shallow actually - which gives me insight into the editor's job. In some ways it is like directing a play, 90% of the work is casting the right person in the right role.
My list of fun books:
Usagi Yojimbo - Stan Sakai transcends both the Samurai genre and Funny Animals.
Bone - Ending soon, buy the trades!
JSA, The Flash, Teen Titans - The GJ trio is promising to be a quality read for quite a while.
Invincible - A book about Smart teen heroes instead of future Jerry Springer guests. Recently took a dark turn, but I expect it to snap back when the current story arc plays out.
Fun Books now in TPB only:
Transmetropolitan - Warren Ellis took Hunter S. Thompson and put him into a dystopic future and you still loved every twisted piece of it.
Top 10 - Hill Street Blues meets The Justice League. Great concept, great execution. Want more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Good Judgement comes from Experience
And Experience comes from... Bad Judgement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Good Judgement comes from Experience
And Experience comes from... Bad Judgement
This message has been edited by ArgentFox on Mar 5, 2004 1:48 PM
